I Hate to Write! Increasing Academic Success of Reluctant Learners

Many students with autism and related disorders hate to write. Even simple writing assignments require language, organization, sensory, and visual motor skills. This session will help educators look at the writing process through the eyes of a student with autism. By focusing on the four aspects of writing that are most problematic for students with ASD: language, organization, sensory, and motor skills, educators and parents will learn new ways to help students with ASD and related disorders become happy, successful writers.

Featured Speaker — Cheryl Boucher, MSEd, OT is an occupational therapist and co-author of the books I Hate To Write! Tips for Helping Kids with ASD and Related Disorders Increase Achievement, Meet Academic Standards, and Become Happy Successful Writers.

10:00 am to 12:00pm (Eastern Time)

 Why do Students with ASD have Difficulty with Writing

12:45 pm to 2:15 pm (Eastern Time)

The Four Lenses and Strategies

2:30 pm to 4:00 pm (Eastern Time)

Strategies to Support Reluctant Writers

Learner Outcomes

Learners will be able to:

1. Describe how the sensory, motor, language, and organizational difficulties associated with executive function learning differences affect a student’s ability to write.
2. Identify and apply research-based strategies to help students with executive function learning differences become more successful writers.
3. List the multiple skill areas required for functional writing skills.
4. Explain why students with executive function learning differences may be challenged in one or all of these areas.
5. Determine how difficulties with the writing process can seriously affect both academic progress and behavior.
6. Develop a “toolbox” of evidence-based, research-based, and easy to implement strategies to help reluctant learners be more successful with the writing process in K-12, college, and career settings.
7. Explore new ways to use computer and iPad technology to help students in K-12 and beyond become more successful writers.